Variable length line fastening device

ABSTRACT

A blocklike member having a tapering longitudinal through passage, a transverse, intersecting slot on an incline relative to the axis of the passage, a doubled cord having its two ends extending through the passage and extending out both ends thereof, a ring or ringlike member through which the cord passes at the point of doubling, and a cord locking cross rod in the slot.

United States Patent [72] Inventors RobertC.Nims; 1,450,094 3/1923 Lustgarten 24/136.2UX Geraldine A. Nims, 29 Peach St., South 1,471,034 10/ l 923 Jordan 24/136.2UX

Barre, Mass. 01074 1,518,523 12/1924 Kubik 24/ l 36.2UX

[21] Appl.N0. 816,685 2,349,114 5/1944 Russell... 24/136.2UX [22} Filed Apr. 16, 1969 2,707,846 5/1955 Beseler 294/74X [45] Patented Mar.30, 1971 2,819,923 1/1958 Anderson... 294/74 2,850,316 9/1958 Philibert 297/74 [54] VARIABLE LENGTH LINE FASTENING DEVICE Primary ExaminerBernard A. Gelak Attorney-Charles R. Fay

ABSTRACT: A blocklike member having a tapering longitudinal through passage, a transverse, intersecting slot on an incline relative to the axis of the passage, a doubled cord having its two ends extending through the passage and extending out both ends thereof, a ring or ringlike member through which the cord passes at the point of doubling, and a cord locking cross rod in the slot.

VARIABLE LENGTH LINE FASTENING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION lvlany adjustable line devices and snubbers have been suggested in the prior art but they are usually relatively expensive and awkward to manipulate. Examples are shown in US. Pat. Nos. 979,l l8 and 2,l64,949. In some cases also the line holders are apt to accidentally release and let go a cargo orother article desired to be securely held.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention comprises a blocklike member, e.g., a cylinder conveniently and inexpensively made of metal, wood, plastic, or'like material and having a through axial passage which tapers from a larger opening at one end to a smaller opening at the other end. This passage is intersected by an elongated slot extending across the cylinder intermediate its ends, starting about centrally of the passage adjacent the largeropening and gradually approaching with wall of the passage ata point that is narrower. A locking rod extends through the slot and across the passage, the locking rod being capable of manual manipulation along the slot, engagingand compressing one end portion only of a cord doubled 'inthe passage and extending out at both ends. Attached to the cord at the point of doubling thereof is an eye, ring, hook, or the like against which the cylinder can compress the cord. An eye, ring, hook, etc. may be attached to one only of the ends of the cord extending out of the other end of a the cylinder. The locking rod locks or releases the end of the cord that is'adjusted, i.e., the part that does not have a fastener on it such as a hook or ring.

The adjusted end ofthe cord can be wound relative .to the device toprevent slip or an extraneous holder can'be used for the locking rod, but these are only in the nature of safety fac tor devices and are not usually necessary.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a view in elevation showing the device locked;

FIG. 2 is a similar view showing the device unlocked;

FIG. 3 is a section illustrating the locking action;

FIG. 4 is a similar view illustrating the device unlocked; and

FIG. 5 is a section at right angles to the sections of FIGS. 3 and 4.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION A blocklike cylindrical member or equivalent is indicated at w. This has an axial, tapering through passage 12 from end to end thereof. A cross slot 14 in the cylindrical member intersects the passage 12 and this slot lies at'and angle to the axis of the passage, having one end 16 more closely adjacent the end Iii having the larger opening and gradually approaching the inner wall of the passage, see FIG. 2, in a direction toward the end 20 having the smaller opening, as at 22.

The slot 14 extends from side to side of the cylinder and lies within the area of the passage I2, the end at I6 being about central relative to the passage as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, and end at 22 failing to intersect the inner wall of the. passage but approaching it.

A cross or locking rod 24 extends through slot 14 and the passage I2 and is manually manipulatable from a central position to a position close to-and almost touching the wall of the passage, FIGS. I and 3, as guided by the sides of a slot 14.

A cord of any suitable flexible material is doubled in the passage I2, the diameter of the cord being approximately onehalf the diameter of the small opening. The doubled portion of the cord extends out of the cylinder at the small opening as at 26, shown loose in FIGS. 2 and 4 and crimped or locked in FIGS. II and 3. The loop so formed secures a ring, hook, or the like by an eye 28. The diameter of the eye and the thickness of material forming the eye are such that the eye cannot enter the small opening. Under these conditions, the cylinder at the end with the smaller opening can compress the loop 26 against the eye, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The two free ends of the cord extend out at the opposite larger opening, as at 30 and 32, one at either side of the locking rod 24. End 32 is provided with a hook, ring, or like device and the end 30 is unencumbered. The position, size and angular relationship between the cord, slot, and passage are such that when the locking rod 24 is at end 16 of the slot, both end portions of the doubled cord can contact the rod but are not gripped or compressed by the rod and the two end portions of the cord are free to move in either direction through the cylinder, FIG. 4. However, when the locking rod isat end 22 of the slot, the locking rod does not contact cord end 32, but compresses cord end 30 against a wall of the passage I2 and prevents cord end 30 from passing out the small opening, FIG. 3. The rod bears against the opposite wall of slot 14.

Preferably some relatively simple holding means as elastometric member 34 can be used to ensure the locking relation of rod 24, FIG. I, by looping it over pins 36, as shown.

Assuming the cord is loose as in FIG. 2, and loop 26 is elongated, the hook, etc. on line end 32 is attached to one of the elements to be secured. The hook, etc. of which eye 28 forms a part is grasped in one hand and line end 30 is grasped in the other hand. Line end 30 or eye 28 is pulled to shorten or lengthen, respectively, the line between eye 28 and the hook oncord end 32. During this adjustment, the locking rod 24 rotates between the doubled cord, each end portion of the doubled cord moves in opposite directions through the cylinder, and the cylinder maintains its previously set distance from eye 28 rather than being carried along by either end portion of the line. The hook, etc. of which eye 28 forms a part is next fastened to the second element to be secured and line end 30 is pulled until the desired tension exists between the secured elements. Without changing the tension, the cylinder is'run down the loop, compressing it against the eye, and the locking rod is moved toward end 22 of the slot 14, until the rod tightly compresses line end 30 against the wall of the passage l2, FIG. 3. Any increased line tension between the hook on cord end 32' and eye 28 causes the locking rod to wedge moretightly against line end 30 and also causes the cylinder to compress the loop 26 more tightly against the eye 28. The parts are all now tight, locked, and secure, but if desired cord end 30 can be tied to ensure against slip and the member 34 canbe looped over pins 36 to hold locking rod 24 in place.

The elastic securing band 34 may be used to hold the locking bar 24 even when there is no tension on the line, as might occur temporarily or in certain uses where no tension is applied to the line between the hooks. When not in use, the elasticsecuring band remains slightly stretched about the top of the cylinder, FIG. 2. In use, the elastic band is pulled down along the outside of the cylinder across the locking bar and attached to the two attachment pins 36, see FIG. l. The elastic securing band in this stretched condition holds the locking bar and will pull it back into-position against cord end 30 should dislodgement of the locking bar occur. This feature is especially important when the line fastening device is used upside down (in relation to the position presented in this description). Prior to releasing the locking bar and removing the variable length fastening line from use, the elastic band is removed from the pins 36 and returned to its nonuse position, FIG. 2.

The variable length fastening line is loosened from the secured elements by moving the locking rod to end R6 of slot 14 and at the same time sliding the cylinder along the doubled line, away from the eye 28, to a position like that shown in FIG. 2.

We claim:

ll. An adjustable line device comprising:

a block, a through axial passage in said block which tapers from a larger opening at one end to a smaller opening at the other end;

an elongated slot extending across the block intermediate its ends, said slot lying at an angle to the passage and intersecting the same, said slot starting about centrally of the passage adjacent the larger opening and gradually approaching the wall of the passage at a point that is narrower;

a cord doubled and located in the tapering through passage, the two ends of the cord extending out of the tapering passage at the larger opening and the doubled part of the cord extending out of the tapering passage at its smaller opening;

a locking cross rod extending through the slot and across the tapering passage, the cord passing the rod with one end portion of the cord at each side of the rod, the locking rod being capable of manual manipulation along the slot to engage and compress one end portion only of the cord doubled in the passage, said cross rod locking and releasing this end of the cord;

means to engage an object at the end of the cord which is free of the locking rod; and

a rigid ringlike structure through which the cord passes at the point of doubling and against which the block corn presses the doubled cord upon pressure being applied thereto.

2. The adjustable line device of claim 1 wherein the smaller opening of the tapering through passage is approximately double the diameter of the cord which is doubled in said through passage.

3. The adjustable line device of claim 1 wherein the size and position of the cross slot are such that the cross rod, upon reaching the cross slot end adjacent the larger opening to the longitudinal through passage, contacts with equal pressure both end portions of the cord doubled in the passage.

4. The adjustable line device of claim 3 including a pair of projections adjacent the end of the member having the smaller opening, and a stretchable band to hold the rod in cord locked position when looped over the cross rod and the projections. 

1. An adjustable line device comprising: a block, a through axial passage in said block which tapers from a larger opening at one end to a smaller opening at the other end; an elongated slot extending across the block intermediate its ends, said slot lying at an angle to the passage and intersecting the same, said slot starting about centrally of the passage adjacent the larger opening and gradually approaching the wall of the passage at a point that is narrower; a cord doubled and located in the tapering through passage, the two ends of the cord extending out of the tapering passage at the larger opening and the doubled part of the cord extending out of the tapering passage at its smaller opening; a locking cross rod extending through the slot and across the tapering passage, the cord passing the rod with one end portion of the cord at each side of the rod, the locking rod being capable of manual manipulation along the slot to engage and compress one end portion only of the cord doubled in the passage, said cross rod locking and releasing this end of the cord; means to engage an object at the end of the cord which is free of the locking rod; and a rigid ringlike structure through which the cord passes at the point of doubling and against which the block compresses the doubled cord upon pressure being applied thereto.
 2. The adjustable line device of claim 1 wherein the smaller opening of the tapering through passage is approximately double the diameter of the cord which is doubled in said through passage.
 3. The adjustable line device of claim 1 wherein the size and position of the cross slot are such that the cross rod, upon reaching the cross slot end adjacent the larger opening to the longitudinal through passage, contacts with equal pressure both end portions of the cord doubled in the passage.
 4. The adjustable line device of claim 3 including a pair of projections adjacent the end of the member having the smaller opening, and a stretchable band to hold the rod in cord locked position when looped over the cross rod and the projections. 